Des Moines , Iowa (RI) – Republican leaders in the Iowa House may pursue a plan to have community colleges grant four-year degrees — but House Speaker Pat Grassley says it would have to be focused on helping residents in higher education deserts access a four-year degree program — in targeted subjects.
House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says serving prospective students in parts of the state will be a likely focus.
Kaufmann says some community colleges in eastern Iowa — like Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids — are next door to major four-year universities.
The Community Colleges of Iowa released an analysis in October suggesting the 15 area community colleges would need 20 million dollars over the next five years to hire faculty, prepare facilities and design courses for four-degrees. Republican Representative Taylor Collins, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, asked for the report.
Community colleges in 24 other states offer four-year degrees, mostly in high demand areas like nursing, business and education.
In 1989, West Virginia became the first state to have its community colleges offer four-year degrees. Missouri is the only neighboring state where some community colleges are offering four-year degrees. The governor of Illinois has proposed allowing some community colleges in his state to offering four-year degrees.
